[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 43648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20781]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information
Collection
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Rural Housing Service's (RHS) intention to request
an extension for a currently approved information collection in support
of Housing Application Packaging Grants.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 12, 1999 to
be assured of consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gloria L. Denson, Loan Specialist,
Single Family Housing Direct Loan Division, RHS, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, STOP 0783, South Building, Washington, DC 20250, Telephone
202-720-1474. (This is not a toll free number.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Housing Application Packaging Grants.
OMB Number: 0575-0157.
Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1999.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) under section 509 of the
Housing Act of 1949, 42 U.S.C. 1479, provides grants to public and
private nonprofit organizations and state and local governments to
package housing applications for loans under sections 502, 504, 514,
515, and 524 grants under section 533 of the Housing Act of 1949 in
colonias and designated undeserved counties. RHS reimburses eligible
organizations for part or all of the costs of conducting, administering
and coordinating an effective housing application packaging program in
colonias and designated underserved counties. Eligible organizations
assist very low and low-income families that are without adequate
housing to buy, build, or repair housing for their own use. Also, the
organizations package applications for loans to buy, build or repair
rental units for lower income families.
RHS will be collecting information from grantees to assure the
organizations participating in this program are eligible entities and
have participated in RHS training in application packaging. The
respondents are nonprofit organizations, States, State agencies, and
units of general local government. The information required for
approval of housing application packaging grants is used by RHS
personnel to verify program eligibility requirements. The information
is collected at the RHS field office responsible for the processing of
the application being submitted. The information is also used to ensure
the program is administered in a manner consistent with legislative and
administrative requirements. If not collected, RHS would be unable to
determine if a grantee would qualify for grant assistance.
The grantees facilitate the application process by helping
applicants submit complete applications to RHS. This saves RHS time by
prescreening applicants, making preliminary determinations of
eligibility, ensuring that the application is complete, and helping the
applicant understand the program.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 1.12 hours per response.
Respondents: Private and public nonprofit organizations and State
and local governments.
Estimate Number of Respondents: 200.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 900 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Jean
Mosley, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-0041.
Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
RHS, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b)
the accuracy of RHS's estimates of the burden of the proposed
collection of information including the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected and (d) ways to minimize the burden
of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including
the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology. Comments may be sent to Jean Mosley, Regulations and
Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural
Development, Stop 0742, Washington, DC 20250. All responses to this
notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval.
All comments will also become a matter of public record.
Dated: August 3, 1999.
Eileen M. Fitzgerald,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 99-20781 Filed 8-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P
